In November 2025, JOOPITER, the auction platform founded by Pharrell Williams, brought together five pairs of Air Jordans created for Michael Jordan in a sale titled “Jordan’s Jordans”.
The selection spanned some of the most important moments of MJ’s career: from the 1985 Air Jordan 1 Player Samples to the Jordan 8s worn in the 1993 Playoffs, and from the Air Jordan 9s used during his stint in baseball to two pairs of Air Jordan 11s from the historic 1995-96 season.
However, not all five shoes had the same history: some were truly game-worn, others were Player Samples made specifically for Jordan, while several were also autographed. The auction, which was open from November 6 to 18, 2025, thus offers an exceptional snapshot of the relationship between Michael Jordan, Nike, and the birth of modern sneaker culture.
What was JOOPITER’s “Jordan’s Jordans” auction?
“Jordan’s Jordans” was an online sale entirely dedicated to footwear made for Michael Jordan.
The five lots were not simply old colorways of the Air Jordan line. They were Player Samples, sneakers used in games, and models originating directly from pivotal moments in the athlete's career.
The auction took place between November 6 and 18, 2025, and included:
- 1985 Air Jordan 1 Player Samples;
- Air Jordan 8s worn in the 1993 NBA Playoffs;
- 1994 Air Jordan 9 Baseball Cleats;
- Air Jordan 11 Concords worn in the 1995-96 season;
- Air Jordan 11 Black/Reds worn in the 1996 Playoffs.
The value of the collection stemmed primarily from its provenance: every pair was linked directly to Michael Jordan through signatures, usage, certifications, or documented chains of ownership.
1. 1985 Air Jordan 1 Player Sample
The first lot was one of the most important shoes in the entire auction: a pair of 1985 Air Jordan 1 Player Samples in the Chicago colorway, made specifically for Michael Jordan.
It is important to make a distinction compared to many descriptions that have circulated online: JOOPITER presented this lot as a signed Player Sample, but did not catalog it as game-worn.
The shoes were produced in MJ’s personal configuration:
- size 13 for the left shoe;
- size 13.5 for the right;
- production code 850204 TYPS;
- Michael Jordan’s signature on the medial side of the left shoe;
- autograph authenticated by JSA.
The half-size difference between the two feet is a recurring characteristic in Player Samples produced for Jordan.
JOOPITER indicated an estimate of $80,000–$120,000 for the lot.
Why is this Air Jordan 1 different from a retail Chicago?
The fact that it was produced in 1985 isn't enough.
JOOPITER explains that the shoes made for Michael Jordan featured differences compared to the regular versions intended for the public. The construction was closer to a mid-cut, with longer and more tapered Swooshes and softer leather than that used on commercial releases.
The TYPS code also indicates a Player Sample production from the Tong Yang factory.
It is precisely this combination of personal configuration, different specifications, and MJ’s signature that separates the lot from a normal vintage Air Jordan 1 Chicago.
2. Air Jordan 8 Playoffs worn on April 30, 1993
The second lot had an even more precise provenance.
Michael Jordan wore these black Air Jordan 8s on April 30, 1993, during Game 1 of the first round of the Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.
Chicago won 114–90, and Jordan finished the game with:
- 35 points;
- 7 rebounds;
- 5 assists.
That game also marked the on-court debut of the black version of the Air Jordan 8 during the 1993 Playoffs, a season the Bulls concluded with their third consecutive NBA title.
The pair, size US 13, was photo-matched to the game by PSA.
Provenance from John Michael Wozniak
The Air Jordan 8s also had a particularly interesting provenance.
The pair was obtained from John Michael Wozniak, one of the long-time members of Jordan’s personal security team and a figure who became familiar to the general public thanks to the documentary The Last Dance.
The sneakers were accompanied by a note reading “With the Compliments of Michael Jordan”.
PSA also performed photo-matching using unique characteristics visible on the shoes in photographs from the game.
The JOOPITER estimate was $40,000–$50,000.
3. 1994 Air Jordan 9 Baseball Cleats
The third lot told the most unusual chapter of Michael Jordan’s career.
After his first retirement from the NBA in 1993, MJ decided to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball and, in 1994, joined the Chicago White Sox organization.
To adapt his Jordan line to the diamond, Nike created special versions of the Air Jordan 9 with a cleated sole.
The pair in the JOOPITER auction was a size 13.5 that was actually used by Jordan during the season with the Birmingham Barons.
The model retains numerous elements of the normal AJ9, but replaces the basketball sole with a baseball structure.
The story of Ed Smith and MJ’s Jordan 9s
The pair's provenance makes this lot even more unique.
The shoes were received by Ed Smith, a player for the minor league Orlando Cubs.
According to the testimony reported by JOOPITER, Jordan appreciated the fact that Smith treated him like a normal teammate and opponent instead of constantly asking him for autographs.
As a gesture of gratitude, he gave him the pair of Air Jordan 9 Cleats.
The sneakers were accompanied by photographs of Jordan and Smith and a letter from Smith himself. For this lot, too, the estimate was $40,000–$50,000.
4. Game-worn and signed Air Jordan 11 Concords
The fourth lot leads directly to one of the most famous seasons in NBA history.
The Air Jordan 11 Concords offered by JOOPITER were worn by Michael Jordan during the 1995-96 season, the year the Chicago Bulls finished the regular season with a record of 72 wins and 10 losses.
Jordan finished that year by winning NBA MVP, Finals MVP, and the fourth NBA title of his career.
The sneakers were Player Samples in size 13.5, and both bore Michael Jordan’s signature in black marker.
Why are the Air Jordan 11s so important in Jordan’s career?
Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 11 introduced a combination that became historic: shiny patent leather, textile material, and a carbon fiber plate.
Michael Jordan wore the Concords for the first time during the 1995 Playoffs and continued to use the model in the following season.
The AJ11 is also one of the silhouettes most favored by Jordan himself and by Hatfield.
The JOOPITER pair therefore possessed three levels of interest simultaneously: one of the most iconic colorways in the line, usage during the 72-10 season, and a dual MJ signature.
JOOPITER estimated the lot between $40,000 and $50,000.
5. 1996 Playoff Air Jordan 11 Black/Reds
The final lot was another pair of Air Jordan 11s, this time in the famous Black/Red configuration, often called Breds or Playoffs.
Jordan wore this colorway during the 1996 NBA Playoffs, which concluded with the Chicago Bulls winning their fourth title and their first championship of the second three-peat.
The auction pair was size 13.5, game-worn, and featured Michael Jordan’s gold signatures.
The coverage published before the sale indicated an estimate in the order of $100,000–$120,000, making it, along with the AJ1, one of the lots with the highest initial valuation.
